I'm tired

not enough sleep the past few days. Still can't get pics from my iPad. sorry. State Fair. no ribbon for bobeche. necklace got 4th

Long Week

I skipped last week's exercise class. It was step class and my knees were hurting; not a good combination. I missed yesterday's class for much the same reason. It's a bit of a catch 22; my knees hurt enough to interfere with going to exercise class, but I need to go to exercise class to build up muscle, strengthen sinews and bones.

Saturday was the demo at Oakview Historic Park Heritage Day. We were behind the house this time; which equaled less traffic, but also better shade. It was moderately cool but massively humid. It was just the 3 of us this time. K had car trouble and it was G's birthday. G and her mom came by so w could meet her mom and socialize a bit.

We shared a tent with the American Wildlife Refuge. One of the birds was a new education bird and wasn't settling well; Steve Stone took her home and brought back a more experienced bird. They had Princess, a kestrel; Speedy, an eastern screech owl; Forest, a great horned owl; and Scowl, a barred owl. Princess was quite chatty throughout the day.

CK brought some flat, plastic shuttle she had made. I had my size 10 thread associated with my bottle holder so I used that to demo. I did talk briefly to the lye soap maker and to some people from the Joel Lane House.

The director invited us to consider doing a demo there in early December. It would require using their loaner 18th century outfits. That's early than the tatting era, but still would be cool. And it's possible someone was tatting that early, we just don't have any evidence of it. Tatting does require a certain standard of thread, and we don't know if the thread that early had the requisite smoothness for the knots to slide.

Mostly, I worked on my beanile necklace. I was 3 chains and 1 ring away from completion when the rain started. It cut the day short by only half an hour. It came down in buckets. And then by the time we had packed up our stuff and ready to move cars and pack them? The rain had slowed and then stopped.

I went back with A and contacted CD. We met for supper and when I got home, I finished the necklace. I also found out part of my other State Fair entry was missing.

Sunday morning, I got started on filling in the missing piece. I finally got it done in the afternoon and hurried to get dressed, off to Michael's for display items, and then to the Fairgrounds. I got both pieces into the Fair (I was unable to complete my 3rd piece because of needing to redo the 1st one) and submitted with 10 minutes to spare. Whew.

The weather has been very un-autumnal the past couple days. Yesterday it started in the high 70s and rain. It stayed humid and warm all day. This morning was 77F with a 76F dewpoint. Ugh.

Sorry I don't have pictures. There's something wrong with my iPad/laptop connection and I haven't been able to download them.

Spaced Last Week and Forgot to Post

I played Deadlands again and caught up with what happened in the session I missed. Our characters are now in Sioux territory so the white characters are at a distinct disadvantage, my character at a lesser one. We made it to town at least.

My Starfinders book came in. I've been reading it a bit and creating a character. I haven't gotten through as much as I thought I would. 

Saturday was the mini maker's faire at Wake Tech. We had a good time. I made a bookmark to take to the family reunion as a door prize. The coverage Wake Tech had used our picture as the 1st one (see the link). Pretty cool, huh?

The bookmark pattern is from the Moonlit shuttle packaging. The fabric triangle was made by Katie (3rd from the right in the photo). She made one for each of us to catch our thread bits.

Sunday I made the apple and sweet potato dish for the family reunion and went to take a shower while it baked. I was all dressed and about to go out the door when suddenly I felt sick. I felt bad enough I wasn't up to going. I called my cousin Joy so they wouldn't be looking for me and getting worried.

The following Monday was the big sustainability event at work. I helped Claire man the table. Her husband made a really cool frame for the poster, out of bamboo.

I missed the 2nd exercise class. I missed the 1st one because I wasn't dressed appropriately. I made it to Thursday's class, and it was body sculpt. The instructor did a good job of providing instructions for the less fit (like me). She did occasionally use terms without defining them.

This past Saturday, I went to see mom. I took her a few things; some nuts, some chocolate, some chamomile tea, some soda, etc.

We went to JoAnne's. I'm looking for some j-hook beading needles. Michael's near me doesn't have them. Neither did the JoAnne's near mom. We picked up one or two items, because they were on sale, and stuff I'd get anyway. But mom got tired pretty soon, so we sat down and looked through the costume patterns. Some looked really good and some you'd have to pay me lots of money to make. And some I still wouldn't.

We also went by a thrift shop. Again, Mom got tired pretty quickly. I told her she needs to start walking the halls to build up her stamina again. 
 
Sunday,  CD and I ran errands. We also went with RG and her dog to the park to go walking. Well, they went walking. I wasn't wearing the right shoes to go walking. So I sat at a bench and tatted and read while they walked. When they came back to me, I went to the bathroom. RG's dog was very upset by this. From the noises she made, you'd think I was torturing the poor canine.

I'm almost finished my 1st Fair tatting project. I have about 10 chains or so left. I made progress on my beanile necklace. I don't know if I'll get my 3r project done or not. We'll see.

POLITICS
So #45 made more stupid comments, about Puerto Rico, NFL players, etc. Although his statements re: the NFL players were actually illegal.

And how many more mass shootings and terrorist attacks like the one in Las Vegas will it take before Congress grows a spine and stands up the NRA or the NRA gets some common sense instead of knee jerk 'all guns good, all gun control bad.'


I called the office of one of my senators (I called both, but left a message on one but no one ever answers in that office). I was upset when I called. By the time I was off the phone, I was furious. The person who answered the phone really needs customer service training. I started the call saying "I want to express my opinion" and he wanted to debate. When I interrupted him to tell him I wasn't finished and to let me continue because my time is short he interrupted me. I actually got rude and told him to shut up and stop interrupting me. He got snippy about me not being civil. I told him to stop interrupting me and I would be. I actually called back and told him that him interrupting me like that made him look sexist (which I doubt he believed, but since I doubt he'd do that to a man, I think it does).

Later on, I called the same office to leave a message and told them he needed customer service training on how to deal with upset callers. After all, Republicans are in the same dog bed as Trump and those who lie down with dogs will get up with fleas, so they need to be prepared to deal with flea bites.

My Laptop Is Alive and Healthy Again

The evening of August 20th, a day that will live in infamy. For me, anyway. I was searching for a fillable 3rd ed Shadowrun character sheet and I hit a....bad link. My laptop was infected. I went through and deleted everything that had downloaded. It was too late. I had adware, badly written ransomware, and a trojan. I tried downloading anti-virus software my friend recommended (Avast) but it was infected; it interfered with my ability to get online. The ransomware put up a fake blue screen of death, but that didn't take long to ignore and fix.

The trojan was harder to get rid of. I spent 2 weeks trying and finally took it to a computer shop to get it cleaned. It was not cheap but at least it's functional again. I missed the rest of RPGAday. Oh well.

Yes, I should try to recount what happened over those three weeks, but frankly, I can't remember. That's why I keep a journal. I did Jane Eborall's New Moon twice, or almost. I messed up on one (in purple thread) and decided to keep the mistake as 'do as I say, not as I do.' I did it again in orange-red thread. I tatted Nina Libin's split ring jewelry set I. Once in red metallic (oren bayak?) and once in silver thread Nina provided. Such a pretty pattern. I went to a tatting meeting. I tried a demo

CD and I went shopping at the same time I dropped off my laptop. He found a couple of very nice shoes for me. One of them didn't fit so we had them check. Another store had them in the (possibly) correct size. The next day however, it was off to do stuff for my mom.

Wednesday, it was errands (like picking up my laptop) and a dentist visit. I did laundry and packed for Palmetto Tat days.  Our new washing machine takes longer than our old one. I didn't take that into account.

I left early Thursday morning to get Anitra and we drove to Georgia. We took my car because her car AC died. We stopped at lunch and I took a call regarding mom's insurance. I'm glad it came while I was at lunch because it was a long phone call.

We knew about two construction zones and planned our timing to accommodate the delays. The other two work zones came as a surprise though. We got to Tat Days about 10 minutes before the teachers and aides meeting. We went right to it, not even enough time to register.

After, we registered, took a load out of the car and went to supper. After supper, we got another load of stuff out of the car. We had both packed fairly lightly. We had a suitcase each, a tatting bag each, and some stuff for the swag table.

We tried the bobble pattern. I finally understand the rib method for 3d tatting. I need to try that pattern again. I used size 20 thread and the button really needs size 10 thread. I bought some thread from the vendor and promptly lost it (I spent all weekend thinking it was lost in the bottom of my bag).

The lady who won the vintage tatting spread last year brought it back, sewn onto a quilt. This looks fantastic doesn't it? The podium is included for size comparison, then a closer look at the the quilt and a close up of a motif.

Friday, I spent every break making phone calls. I was scheduling movers to get the furniture out of mom's apartment and to her new one. It wasn't easy.I never got a chance to go to the vending room. I did manage to drop off my stuff for the silent auction. I gave some duplicate thread and tins.

I helped Nina with her class in the morning. She had 3 assistants, so each of us could help people at each table. The individual focus really helps. I'd managed to leave my Nina thread sample at home, so I quickly tatted up one earring Thursday night.

Friday afternoon, I assisted Jane. There were one remarkable tatter. She hadn't known how to tat before the weekend started and came into the class not knowing how to make rings. But she already knew how to make split rings.

As usual, one picture (at least) of the lake outside the dining hall.

The banquet was Friday night. As usual, there was great fun. There were two colored handbells on each table. Volunteers went up and Donna T held up flashcards. I was one of the people from our table. Then I handed off my bell to someone I didn't know. I figured we could talk later and it would be a nice ice breaker/conversation starter.

The live auction was after and I didn't buy anything. The things I like went out of my reach fairly quickly. Oh well, at least the charity benefited. 

Saturday morning, I was taking the rocket ship with Richard E. He's a new teacher at Tat Days. I'm glad it was a two session class. None of the techniques were new to me, but I had a brain hiccup and could not remember how to make pearl tatting. He had to show me.

A few auction items had gotten mislaid so they had a second live auction. I managed to snag a crochet hook in a pen tube. Instead of an inkpen, a crochet hook emerges. I also managed to get one of Marie Smith's beaded shuttle bags. I got it early, before other folks woke up or warmed up. And yes, I danced in my seat.

After the auction, Georgia wiped her forehead with a cotton hankie. Sort of as a joke, one of the Palmetto Tatters bid $1 for the hankie. I bid $2. Georgia pulled out her beginner kits; which have a hankie, a small shuttle, a cluny shuttle, etc. We paid her and she distributed them.

Saturday afternoon, I took a simple class. Sherry P taught how to make a flower hair clip. I finished it in class; the only project I finished this weekend. Other than Karey's early bird magic decoder ring class.

I also picked up my sole win from the silent auction. I got outbid on everything else. It's a tatted dresser scarf. I really didn't expect to win it. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it. I also need to take pictures of my purchases.

At breakfast, I found out I'd left my thread on the vendor's table. And they'd already packed them up. We came to a solution so I can get my thread. After breakfast Sunday, we headed home. We took the wrong turn circling Charlotte. I finally got home around 8 pm.

There were people who weren't there whom I missed. One had a death in the family, one has an ailing relative and I don't know about the others. But they were missed.

Monday, I went to help mom move. Met the movers and got her bed, a couple chairs, etc to her new place and got them in place. Then I moved her stuff from her temporary room to her new one. I missed lunch and headed home just after 4pm. I finally got some granola bars about 4:30 pm and CD brought Chinese food for supper.

I woke up aching this morning. But I wore a pair of my new shoes. I took a pair of well-worn shoes, just in case. Good thing, about midday, I needed a break from my high (ish) heel Mary Janes.

Work was as you'd expect after being gone for a week.

Catch Up and Stuff

I spent the weekend with my mom. She's went to assisted living on Monday and there's so much to do. I left her a list Sunday night to do after I left. The move apparently went smoothly enough, but of course, she didn't get everything she wanted. I told her I'd drive back and get stuff but she said she'd get someone closer to do it.

I won a book! It's  A Season of Ruin by Anna Bradley. It was a lovely surprise.

I finished the 4th in The Others series, Marked in Flesh. PL loaned it to me. That leaves Dark Serpent yet to read of my recent purchases. I'm trying to decide to whether to read it now, or to wait until the next 2 are out.

I recovered my shuttles from Mom and bought a couple Clovers at JoAnne's. I also got the idea to use rattail and large beads to demo beanile.

I got my copy of 7th Sea, 2nd edition. I've created a character, an Eisen soldier. My latest Pathfinder Pawns arrived Monday as well as the latest hardback book; Horror Adventures.

I meant to show this off a couple weeks ago. Mom made this ...I don't know what to call it. It's to hide the saucer under a flower pot, in a decorative fashion.

My begonia

 Under this plant is woven one that I made. I used an embroidery hoop. It's based on wagon wheel woven rug.

prayer plant

This is a handy tip to know to get a conference room, etc to go quiet. It doesn't work in all cultures (for example, a choral group found it better to sing a single note)

Last week, I spent time getting mom ready for her next transition. She's going to an assisted living place temporarily. In the meantime, I hired in-home care to take her on errands and doctor visits. Her friends handled the follow-ups. I must say, I am really glad mom has long-term care insurance. It's making the process much easier.

I have made one pair of earrings for the Palmetto Tat Days class. They are so pretty.

Here are a few plants from the planter outside my office.

I have no idea, it's purple

silvery grey plant

chrysanthemums?

another purple

Publishing Scheduled...and Yet Silence

So, I finished my post last week and set it to publish in an hour. And it never published. So, to anyone actually waiting for it, sorry. I hit Publish Monday (again), and this time it worked.

Friday, I went to lunch with my co-workers to celebrate one's lunch. We went to Carolina Brewery. I'd never been before but I can recommend their barbecue and their sweet potato fries. None of us had any beer; middle of the workday after all. No hardship for me, I don't like beer. Our newest co-worker told us about a trip she'd taken to Paris. She's good at telling stories.

Anyway, I made progress on my test swatch for my knitting. It failed, which means I'm starting over using what I learned. My target, is a 7" by 1" strip. My result was about 10" by 1/2".

I've made one earring, for the pattern for Tat Days. I say 'made', but I still need to make one join and hide the ends. Then I need to load more beads, make the mate and then start the variant.

No progress made on the blocking. I need to take the one I've blocked, photograph it, and send the picture to Anitra. And of course, I need to block the next one.

RG's puppy chewed a hole in her blanket (the puppy's blanket). I took it home and I'm going to try to patch it. My main concern is that my patch is not more vulnerable to puppy teeth than the rest of the blanket.

Of course, Fantasy Gamers Conclave was over the weekend. It's a small Saturday and Sunday convention. CD, RG, and I have been running Pathfinder games there for at least since 2010. Alas, they're taking a break and won't have a con next year. But maybe the year after that. :crossed fingers:

I ran Silverhex, or rather 3 of the 6 quests, for 3 people who'd never played tabletop RPGs before. They were interested, and one of them had a Beginner's Box but found it confusing. Getting a chance to play and see how it works in real life and learning by doing really helped. All three of them decided to join PFS (PathFinder Society). Whether they follow up with more PFS play, well, that's up to their preferences and opportunities. I had a picture of one of the maps, but I can't find it.

Saturday afternoon, I ran Sun Orchid Scheme. It's a regular scenario. I had a full table for that one. I had two new(ish) players using pre-gens and everyone else had PFS characters. We also wound up really late. I didn't get to sleep until after 2 am.

CD let me sleep in Sunday and our games didn't start until 1 pm, thankfully. I ended up running a couple of quests from Phantom Phenomena. I had 4 people playing, interrupted by a couple of them needed elsewhere for a time. All the players had fun, and that's the important part.

They raised over $3000 for Autism Society of North Carolina. I helped a little more by buying something at auction. There were other things up for bid that I wanted but they went out of my limited price range.









One really neat thing, on the way home on Sunday, there were some heavy clouds rolling in. And as the sun was setting behind them, there was a smaller whisp of cloud coming out and the sun shining through it cause it to light up like a rainbow. I really wish I could have gotten a picture, because my words are not up to describing just how unusual and lovely it was.

We also had another major storm roll through. There was one crash of thunder so loud it sounded like a cannon going off. Fortunately, this time we didn't lose power.

Some books I had ordered, also arrived on Saturday. I finished reading one of them on Sunday and started another one. That leaves 2 more (book 2 & 3 in a series), plus one I've been putting off because once I start it, I won't want to stop for anything, including sleep.

Tonight is my date with Carry. You'll find out about that next post.

And here's an entertaining flowchart. Are you caught in a time paradox?

More Zen Koi images

Progress on Too Many Projects

I have started the test swatch, aka gauge test, for a baby blanket block. It's my 1st ever block so I'm a little anxious about it. I'm going to make a plain block, to hopefully provide some contrast to other, fancier, blocks. I've never really done this before, the test I mean. It's supposed to be a 7" block, so I'm guessing and trying to do a 1" thick strip. We'll see if I'm right.

Next up: continuing progress on Anitra's test patterns. I've blocked one snowflake but I have more to done that need to be blocked.

Nina Libin asked if I'd be her assistant in her split ring beanile class at Palmetto Tat Days. She sent me the tips/instructions and the patterns. I did the test of technique project. And promptly left my shuttles at mom's house. Luckily, I have other shuttles.

Oh wait, I also have 3 scenarios to prep for the con this weekend. If I can't find my pre-printed pregens (pregenerated characters), I'll need to hit a print shop and get them (up to 30) printed. In color. That's not going to be cheap.

I took some flower pictures and since a friend asked about chard, also a picture of that plant, from the edible plant beds by work.

cone flower

chard

I'm still playing Neko Atsume. And I finally got a full house.

I went to see Mom this weekend. Mostly, I tried to get her tv to work, but her DVD suddenly stopped working. We went to the grocery store and she stocked up on easy prep food. We need to decide what to do about her car, though.